Lacs Escur and Lac de l'Ascension loop from Lauzet

The hike starts at a place called Le Lauzet, where there is a car park at the entrance.

To reach the starting point, take the N94 to La Roche-de-Rame. In the centre of the village of La Roche-de-Rame, leave the main road and follow the sign for "Le Lauzet" via the Route du Lauzet (D338). After about 600 metres, you will come to a crossroads. Turn right onto a bridge over the river and pass a sign for "La Roche-de-Rame Information" which shows the hiking trails with a map of the area. The road is tarmac for another 1 km before giving way to a gravel track. Follow the track for 12 km. The track is passable by car, but you will need a vehicle with sufficient ground clearance to get through without any problems.

(S/E) Head north-east and cross the hamlet. At the fork shortly afterwards, turn left to ford a stream. On the other side, turn left and follow a gently sloping forest track westwards.

(1) At a place called Le Giet, leave the forest track and take a path that climbs to the right into the forest. The slope is steep at first. Keep heading north-east through the forest.

(2) Exit the forest (the slope becomes gentler) and head north. The slope becomes steeper at the foot of Small Pass du Peyron (the highest point of the hike), which you reach after crossing some scree. Enjoy the panoramic view of the two valleys and three lakes along the hike.

(3) Descend the north slope towards the clearly visible lakes. The trail disappears at one point during the descent, but the terrain is grassy and you can easily follow the direction of the lakes. This will take you to Petit Lac Escur (now almost entirely covered with vegetation).

(4) Leave the lake on your right, continue north and you will quickly reach Lac Escur.

(5) Walk along the lake on your right, with a beautiful pebble shore and turquoise colours in the water. Shortly after the end of the lake, turn left and descend gently towards Lac de l'Ascension. Head for the south-western tip of the lake.

(6) Just before the lake outlet, turn left (be careful to spot the start of the path). Further on, cross the stream coming from the lake, then descend steeply. Continue south-southwest, keeping the stream at some distance on your left. Then head west, then southwest, still with the stream on your left.

(7) Take a footbridge to cross the stream again. You will arrive at a fork in the road with yellow signs.

(8) Take the left-hand path towards Lauzet. The path climbs through the forest until it joins a forest track suitable for vehicles.

(9) Follow the track to the right, which immediately turns left and heads south. Stay on this track, which then heads east-south-east and descends gently to a place called Le Giet.

(1) Continue along the same route and, taking the opposite path to the one you took on the way there, return to the Lauzet car park (S/E).

Alternative route to complete the hike:

• once you reach the small pass of Collet du Peyron or Petit Lac Escur, you can head east to take a well-marked path up to the summit of Pic du Haut Mouriare.
• This is a round trip and adds another 500 m of elevation gain.

Hike around the three lakes:

• Lac de l'Ascension
• Lac Escur
• Petit Lac Escur